First, there was Caron Butler of the Los Angeles Clippers "trolling" Jonas Valanciunas. Then we had Tyler Hansbrough of the Indiana Pacers putting a UFC style takedown on the rookie.
You can now add J.R Smith of the New York Knicks to the list of players who have performed unnecessary (sometimes harmful), disrespectful plays on the Toronto Raptors.
Circumstances where opposing players have taken shots with the game clock expiring in a losing situation for Toronto have indeed happened before, but that doesn't make it any less, shall I say, lame as hell.
Outside of the first quarter (Knicks had a 21-17 lead after 12 minutes), the result of this game was never really in doubt, as New York cruised to an easy 110-84 victory. The Knicks improve to 42-26 on the year, as Toronto loses its fourth-straight, falling to 26-44.
I'm putting such an emphasis on that one play by Smith because frankly, it was the most eventful moment of an otherwise boring, lackluster game between two teams going in completely opposite directions.
In fact, you may even say that the Raptors played their best defense of the night on that final play.
I'm being totally sarcastic by the way, in case you haven't noticed.
One of the beautiful things about writing for Raptors HQ is that I have the forum to speak my mind on a variety of topics concerning our beloved franchise. I am well aware of what I can and cannot say. I don't write anything down that I don't truly believe in 100%. I don't bash for the sake of bashing. I don't criticize unless given a valid reason.
As it pertains to Smith taking that shot at the end of the game, I want to let it be known that what he did ticked me off to no end, as it probably did to a bunch of you out there, as well.
I would love to tell you what I literally said the moment it happened, but I'm some words are just not meant for these types of articles.
It was a punk move, plain and simple.
What he did was the equivalent to when in professional wrestling, someone performs their finishing maneuver, pins you for the three-count, then proceeds to pick you up again and nail you with another finisher, just because he can.
The game was over. The result was determined. The Knicks won. The Raptors lost. All he needed to do was stand perfectly still, wait for the buzzer to sound, and then walk off the court with his fellow teammates.
He couldn't do that. He didn't do that. He put the ball in the basket as Toronto stood idly by. Everyone was under the impression that Smith would run out the clock?
Why would everyone assume such a thing?
It's because that would be the respectful thing to do. That may fly in a game of NBA 2K13, but on an actual basketball court, you don't run up the score, especially in the manner Smith did.
I wouldn't have blamed any of the Raptors players if they had approached him after the shot and smacked him upside the head, because that's exactly what I would have done if I were to have been involved in that same scenario.
There is no need for that in the NBA. There is no need for that anywhere.
Show some class. Be a "good" winner.
I wish someone on the team would have done something. Anything. Stand up for yourself and stand up for the rest of the team.
Toronto is struggling, but we shouldn't be a doormat for anyone.